Chapter 4: It’s Just a Lie, Who Doesn’t Lie?
After several cries, Chi Qui Lin felt his throat recovering, his voice now smooth and gentle, pleasant to hear.
He adjusted his rapid, disordered breathing and sorted through his increasingly chaotic thoughts.
The new environment after his rebirth came too suddenly, leaving him unprepared for life under the guise of “Jing Qiu Chi.” Especially facing Liu Ming Zhou, someone with significant ties to his past life, Chi Qui Lin couldn’t remain calm.
Seeing Chi Qui Lin remain silent for a long time, Liu Ming Zhou asked in a hoarse voice, “You’re really not Chi Qui Lin? Then why did you ask the doctor about him?”
“I—” The question was too sharp; a wrong answer would easily expose his identity. Chi Qui Lin’s brain spun rapidly, finally making up his mind to abandon all pretense. “I like Chi Qui Lin! I pursued him for a long time, but he ran off with someone named Wang Xinyu or Li Xinyu. It’s infuriating!”
Liu Ming Zhou’s expression was hesitant and uncertain. He relentlessly pressed, “When did you meet Chi Qui Lin?”
“Four years ago, at the old hot pot restaurant in the west of the city. That’s how I know that hot pot restaurant. Any more questions?” Chi Qui Lin answered confidently and fluently, inwardly marveling at his quick thinking.
His explanation seemed flawless. Liu Ming Zhou’s expression immediately dimmed, and he silently looked out the window.
Seeing him deflated, Chi Qui Lin’s interest was piqued. He pretended to be casual and started probing, “Why are you so concerned about that Chi Qui Lin? Do you… like him too?”
Liu Ming Zhou obviously didn’t like Chi Qui Lin, but Chi Qui Lin said this to humiliate him.
After all, ignorance is bliss. So even if Liu Ming Zhou was angry, he couldn’t get mad at the “unaware” Jing Qiu Chi.
Sure enough, Liu Ming Zhou’s face grew even more unsightly. He evaded the question, “I’m sorry, I must have mistaken you for someone else.”
Watching his expression, a surge of vengeful satisfaction filled Chi Qui Lin. He immediately adopted a confrontational and sarcastic tone, “I’m really curious, why did Chi Qui Lin commit suicide?”
Liu Ming Zhou’s face was bloodless. “It’s my fault… it’s all my fault…” His incoherent words were a stark contrast to the aggressive questioning he’d directed at Chi Qui Lin earlier.
Chi Qui Lin wanted to laugh, but remembering Liu Ming Zhou’s late-night visit to Yao Xin Yu’s apartment, and his own shattering fall, the laughter died in his throat. He felt it wasn’t enough. His vengeful words continued to flow, “So Chi Qui Lin’s death is related to you? I thought his boyfriend had cheated on him.”
Liu Ming Zhou’s words became increasingly disjointed, laced with desperate pleas, “Stop, please stop…”
Stop? Why not? Can’t you take responsibility for your actions? Chi Qui Lin found it amusing. He was about to deliver another blow when he saw Liu Ming Zhou weakly rise, staggering towards the door, collapsing before he reached it. Two nurses rushed over and carried him away.
The ward fell silent. Chi Qui Lin leaned against the bed, feeling restless. His words had avenged him against Liu Ming Zhou, but they had also dredged up painful memories, pulling him deeper into a vortex of suffering.
After a long time, the ward door opened. Chi Qui Lin’s breath hitched when he saw the visitor. A year felt like a mere nap to him, but for Yao Xin Yu, much had changed.
He saw that Yao Xin Yu had cut his hair short, revealing a smooth forehead. He looked much more mature.
Yao Xin Yu pulled up a chair and sat beside him, his expression displeased. “What did you say to Liu Ming Zhou?”
What? Liu Ming Zhou went to Yao Xin Yu to complain? Chi Qui Lin was shocked. Seeing Yao Xin Yu defending Liu Ming Zhou like this ignited jealousy. He’d been disfigured saving Yao Xin Yu, and Yao Xin Yu hadn’t defended him like this. Why did Liu Ming Zhou deserve such protection?
Behind the anger and resentment was a tidal wave of grief, so heavy it left Chi Qui Lin speechless.
Yao Xin Yu didn’t seem to mind his silence, continuing, “Mingzhou experienced some bad things a year ago, so could you be more mindful of your words and avoid upsetting him?”
Bad things? A year ago, Chi Qui Lin had fallen to his death. He was dead. In Yao Xin Yu’s eyes, it was just “bad things”?
Chi Qui Lin looked at the man before him impassively, disappointment and despair rising like a tsunami, threatening to drown him in the river of love.
Sensing Chi Qui Lin’s prolonged gaze, Yao Xin Yu looked up, meeting his eyes.
Both of them stopped breathing.
Even burdened with so much pain, Chi Qui Lin still felt a flutter in his heart at the familiar face, leaving him flustered and at a loss.
Yao Xin Yu felt a sense of familiarity – the unruly brows, the striking features, yet the eyes were so gentle and calm. At that moment, he understood Liu Ming Zhou’s sudden emotional breakdown. This man named Jing Qiu Chi had eyes that resembled the deceased Chi Qui Lin.
Chi Qui Lin felt uneasy under Yao Xin Yu’s scrutiny, wondering if his guilt was showing. He felt Yao Xin Yu might have recognized his false body and true soul.
He hastily looked away, feigning composure. “I’ll be mindful. Sir, is there anything else?”
Seeing Yao Xin Yu shake his head, Chi Qui Lin dismissed him. “I need to rest.”
Yao Xin Yu nodded silently and stood up, walking towards the door.
Watching the familiar back fade away, Chi Qui Lin’s eyes welled up. His blurred vision caught Yao Xin Yu turning around at the doorway. They met each other’s gaze in silence.
Yao Xin Yu broke the silence first. “This might be presumptuous, but you strongly resemble a dear friend of mine.”
Without waiting for Chi Qui Lin’s response, Yao Xin Yu gently closed the door. His receding footsteps echoed in the corridor.
Chi Qui Lin sat on the bed, lost in thought, replaying Yao Xin Yu’s words. The “dear friend” – was it his past self? In Yao Xin Yu’s heart, was he just a dear friend?
He switched off the ward lights, staring at the night outside. His thoughts churned like the ocean. He thought of his parents. On the day he fell, his parents must have been waiting for him to come home for the New Year. They only received news of his death.
A wave of sadness washed over him. He impulsively wanted to see how his parents were doing, but his muscle atrophy left him weak and immobile. Even if his body was fine, in what capacity could he see them?
His former identity and past had been buried with his past self. Perhaps he shouldn’t be entangled in these past matters.
With this thought, Chi Qui Lin clutched the blanket, making a silent decision. Once he was better, he would leave this place and start a new life.
【Author’s Note: I’m still debating whether the male lead should be called Liu Ming Zhou or Fang Yunzhou… I find both names appealing…】
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